[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19284-19286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9483]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Petitions for Modification

    The following parties have filed petitions to modify the 
application of existing safety standards under section 101(c) of the 
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

1. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2002-028-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2) (Weekly examination) to its 
Loveridge No. 22 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01433) located in Marion County, 
West Virginia. The petitioner requests that the Proposed Decision and 
Order for its previously granted petition for modification, docket 
number M-93-275-C, be amended as it relates to air courses ventilating 
the No. 3 North seals and the No. 2-1/2 North seals at the Loveridge 
No. 22 Mine. The petitioner requests that paragraph 4 of the PDO be 
amended to permit a certified person to conduct weekly examinations of 
each of the eight (8) monitoring stations to evaluate the quality of 
(methane and oxygen content measured by a hand held instrument) and the 
quantity of air entering and exiting the monitoring station, and to 
determine air course leakage. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at

[[Page 19285]]

least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.

2. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2002-029-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2) (Weekly examination) to its 
Loveridge No. 22 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01433) located in Marion County, 
West Virginia. The petitioner requests a modification of that part of 
the existing standard that requires a certified person to make a weekly 
examination of the return air course from the Back Door Seals and the 2 
East Seals through the Main South headings to the Sugar Run return fan. 
The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation check points 1 through 
9 to insure proper ventilation between the Back Door Seals and 2 East 
Seals area through the Main South headings to the Sugar Run return fan 
instead of conducting weekly examinations of the entire area. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.

3. Warrior Coal, LLC

[Docket No. M-2002-030-C]

    Warrior Coal, LLC, P.O. Box Drawer 1210, Madisonville, Kentucky 
42431 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1103-
4(a) (Automatic fire sensor and warning device systems; installation; 
minimum requirements) to its Cardinal Mine (I.D. No. 15-17216) located 
in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a modification of 
the existing standard to permit a carbon monoxide detection system to 
be installed in belt entries to identify a sensor location in lieu of 
identifying each belt flight. The petitioner proposes to install a 
carbon monoxide monitoring system as an early warning fire detection 
system in all belt entries. The petitioner has outlined specific 
procedures in this petition that would be used when implementing this 
proposed alternative method. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

4. Drummond Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2002-031-C]

    Drummond Company, Inc., P.O. Box 10246, Birmingham, Alabama 35202-
0246 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.902 
(Low- and medium-voltage ground check monitor circuits) to its Shoal 
Creek Mine (I.D. No. 01-02901) located in Jefferson County, Alabama. 
The petitioner requests a modification of that part of the existing 
standard that pertains to circuits interruption by an approved ground 
check device causing a circuit breaker to open. The petitioner proposes 
to interrupt the low- and medium voltage circuits with ground check 
relays used in conjunction with fully rated contactors in lieu of 
circuit breakers. The petitioner states that this circuit arrangement 
would be used on low- and medium voltage power distribution circuits 
necessary for belt conveyor operation. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

5. Fools Gold Energy Corporation

[Docket No. M-2002-032-C]

    Fools Gold Energy Corporation, 2255 Upper Johns Creek Road, Kimper, 
Kentucky 41539 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.503 (Permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 
18.41(f) (Plug and receptacle-type connectors) to its No. 4 Mine (I.D. 
No. 15-16036) located in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes 
to use permanently installed, spring-loaded locking devices to secure 
battery plugs on mobile battery-powered machines to prevent 
unintentional loosening of the battery plugs from battery receptacles, 
and to eliminate the potential hazards associated with difficult 
removal of padlocks during emergency situations. The petitioner asserts 
that using padlocks to secure battery plugs would result in diminution 
of safety to the miners.

6. Grace Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2002-033-C]

    Grace Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 520, Virgie, Kentucky 41572 has filed 
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503 (Permissible 
electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.41(f) (Plug and 
receptacle-type connectors) to its No. 4 Mine (I.D. No. 15-16583) 
located in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use 
permanently installed, spring-loaded locking devices to secure battery 
plugs on mobile battery-powered machines to prevent unintentional 
loosening of the battery plugs from battery receptacles, and to 
eliminate the potential hazards associated with difficult removal of 
padlocks during emergency situations. The petitioner asserts that using 
padlocks to secure battery plugs would result in diminution of safety 
to the miners.

7. Chestnut Coal

[Docket No. M-2002-034-C]

    Chestnut Coal, R.D. 3, Box 142B, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 17801 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1312(a) 
(Explosives and detonators in underground magazines) to its No. 10 
Slope Mine (I.D. No. 36-07059) located in Northumberland County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a modification of the existing 
standard to permit the quantity of explosives kept underground to be 
more than the maximum 48 hour supply. The petitioner proposes to 
transport explosive powder underground once a week and store the powder 
in an adequate storage magazine located in a dry area instead of 
storing a 48-hour supply of powder. The petitioner states that the 
powder would be used on a regular basis and any powder left over from 
the previous week would be rotated so that the old supply is used 
first. The petitioner also states that if the mine is idle for an 
extended period of time, any powder left in the magazine would be 
removed from the mine and sent back to the supplier. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the existing standard.

8. Drummond Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2002-035-C]

    Drummond Company, Inc., P.O. Box 10246, Birmingham, Alabama 35202-
0246 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.900 
(Low- and medium-voltage circuits serving three-phase alternating 
current equipment; circuit breakers) to its Shoal Creek Mine (I.D. No. 
01-02901) located in Jefferson County, Alabama. The petitioner requests 
a modification of the existing standard that pertain to the use of 
circuit breakers to provide undervoltage and grounded phase protection 
to low- and medium voltage circuits. The petitioner proposes to 
interrupt the low- and medium voltage circuits with ground check relays 
used in conjunction with fully rated contactors in lieu of using 
circuit breakers. The petitioner states that this circuit arrangement 
would be used on low- and medium voltage power distribution circuits 
necessary for belt conveyor operation. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

[[Page 19286]]

9. New Century Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2002-036-C]

    New Century Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 1781, Alabaster, Alabama 35007-
1781 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.214(a) 
(Refuse piles; general) to its Pineywoods Preparation Plant (I.D. No. 
01-02976) located in Shelby County, Alabama. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the existing standard to permit construction of a 
coarse refuse disposal area, Coarse Refuse Disposal Area No. 5, within 
the face-up area of the abandoned Kodiak Mine No. 1. The petitioner 
proposes to cover the existing sealed entries with additional 
impervious, non-combustible earthen material which would contain enough 
fines to ensure an airtight seal and place the material in lifts not to 
exceed 12 inches. The petitioner has listed in this petition specific 
procedures that would be used when implementing its proposed 
alternative method. The petitioner asserts that application of the 
existing standard would result in a diminution of safety to the miners 
and that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the existing standard.

10. Rivers Edge Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2002-037-C]

    Rivers Edge Mining, Inc., 1970 Barrett Court, P.O. Box 1990, 
Henderson, Kentucky 42420 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.503 (Permissible electric face equipment; 
maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.41(f) (Plug and receptacle-type connectors) 
to its Rivers Edge Mine (I.D. No. 46-08890) located in Boone County, 
West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use a threaded ring and a 
spring-loaded device instead of a padlock on all battery plug 
connectors on mobile battery-powered machines used inby the last open 
crosscut to prevent the plug connector from accidently disengaging 
while under load. Warning tags stating ``Do Not Disengage Plugs Under 
Load'' will be placed on all battery plug connectors on the battery-
powered machines. The petitioner states that training in the safe 
practices and provision for compliance with its proposed alternative 
method would be provided to all persons who are required to operate or 
maintain the battery-powered machines. The petitioner asserts that 
application of the existing standard would result in a diminution of 
safety to the miners and that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

11. Coastal Coal--West Virginia, LLC

[Docket No. M-2002-038-C]

    Coastal Coal--West Virginia, LLC, Brooks Run Operation, 61 Missouri 
Run Road, Cowen, West Virginia 26206 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.1002 (Location of trolley wires, trolley 
feeder wires, high-voltage cables and transformers) to its Mine No. 4A 
East (I.D. No. 46-07125) located in Webster County, West Virginia. The 
petitioner proposes to use continuous mining machines with nominal 
voltage power circuits not to exceed 2,400 volts at its Mine No. 4A 
East. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

Request for Comments

    Persons interested in these petitions are encouraged to submit 
comments via e-mail to ``[email protected],'' or on a computer disk 
along with an original hard copy to the Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 4015 
Wilson Boulevard, Room 627, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments 
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before May 20, 
2002. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia this 15th day of April, 2002.
Marvin W. Nichols, Jr.,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 02-9483 Filed 4-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P